Safety win for families – but fears over delay

Councillors have bowed to public pressure to install speed humps at an accident blackspot – the scene of two major crashes in a year.

But there was concern from families when it was revealed the traffic calming measures may not be installed at Bankhead Road, Kirkintilloch, for at least a year and a half.

In the meantime, it was agreed at a meeting of East Dunbartonshire Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee last week that rumble strips be put in place for road safety.

The Herald, residents and politicians, including local MP Stuart McDonald and Councillor Jack Young, have been campaigning for traffic calming measures in the area after a horror accident last October.

Stephen Wright and his family were lucky to escape with their lives after a car smashed into their home at Waterside Road.

At last week’s meeting, councillors unanimously agreed that speed humps – called for by Mr Wright and his neighbours – should be installed.

But Kirkintilloch East Councillor Stewart MacDonald added that a statutory consultation would have to take place, which normally takes up to 18 months.

This means the speed humps will almost certainly not be installed by the time of the next Scottish council elections, scheduled for May 2017.

After the meeting, Mr Wright said: “What we don’t want is for the installation of speed bumps to be put on the back burner. We want this consultation to progress at a good pace.”

Councillor MacDonald told the Herald he knew it was “critical something is done.”

He added: “This was a devastating accident for the family. That’s why I put forward an amendment at the meeting that speed humps be installed.”

Director of Neighbourhood Services Grace Irvine had recommended rumble strips rather than speed humps, as “bus providers could be expected to object” to the latter.

But families have pointed out there are speed humps in Burns Road at Harestanes Primary which is part of a bus route.

Councillor MacDonald recommended at the meeting rumble strips be installed while the consultation got underway, adding: “I believe they may have some effect.”

He was seconded by Councillor Rhondda Geekie.

But residents have already said they are sceptical about the measure and fear the rumble strips will “only add to the thrill of drivers addicted to speed”.

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